If you’re following the schedule, you should read these chapters today: Exodus 8, Luke 11, Job 25–26, 1 Corinthians 12. Click on any of those references to see all the passages in one long page on BibleGateway. If you can't do all the readings today, read Luke 11.

After he taught the disciples an outline for how to pray (vv. 1-4), Christ told them a story to encourage them to pray. That story, in verses 5-8, could be called the parable of the annoying friend. A man and his family are trying to sleep. A friend of his comes knocking at midnight to ask for some bread to feed his unexpected (and nocturnal) visitors. Christ said that the annoyed friend would do it “because of your shameless audacity…” (v. 8). In other words, if you can be annoying enough, you can get what you need from a friend who has better things to do. Your “friend” will do it just to make you go away. What on earth does this parable teach us about prayer? Post your thoughts about this in the comments below or on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/calvarybiblechurch/. And, feel free to answer and interact with the questions and comments of others. Have a great day; we'll talk scripture again tomorrow.